Daily Devotions

Today we turn to the historical book of 1 Kings 5:4 “But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.”

With this text in mind,  Mark Buchanan, in his book ‘The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath’ leads us to consider to quality of the rest we experience.

“One measure for whether or not you’re rested enough—besides falling asleep in board meetings—is to ask yourself this: How much do I care about the things I care about? When we lose concern for people, both the lost and the found, for the bride of Christ, for friendship, for truth and beauty and goodness; when we cease to laugh when our children laugh (and instead yell at them to quiet down) or weep when our spouses weep (and instead wish they didn’t get so emotional); when we hear news of trouble among our neighbours and our first thought is that we hope it isn’t going to involve us—when we stop caring about the things we care about—that’s a signal we’re too busy. We have let ourselves be consumed by the things that feed the ego but starve the soul. Busyness kills the heart.” 

Our passage today reminds us that even the familiar routines—the daily grind, the endless to-do lists—can quietly become adversaries. They may not look like enemies, but they can rob us of true rest, crowding out the space where we meet God.

There’s something the Church could learn from a Swedish tradition called fika (pronounced “fee-kah”). More than just a coffee break, fika is a cultural ritual of intentional pause. It’s a sacred slowing down—a time set apart not just to rest, but to reconnect.

In Sweden, fika is woven into the rhythm of the workday, once or twice daily. Phones are set aside. Laptops are closed. Conversations shift from tasks and targets to the simple sharing of life over coffee and pastries. It’s a reminder that we are not just workers or leaders—we are human beings made for connection.

As Micael Dahlen, a professor at the Stockholm School of Economics, explains, "Fika is where we talk life—we talk about everything but work itself." This simple ritual fosters what the Swedes call trivsel—a blend of enjoyment, well-being, and flourishing in everyday life. The idea is so deeply rooted in Swedish culture that many workplaces even have trivsel committees—groups dedicated to nurturing a healthy and joyful work environment.

Imagine if the Church embraced this kind of rhythm. What if  each fellowships were intentional about creating space—not just to study or serve, but to rest, to share life, and to rediscover joy in God and one another? Perhaps then, like Moses, we might begin to see more clearly the God who meets us not just in burning bushes or mountaintops, but in quiet moments of holy pause.

Speak to me, Lord,

in this quiet moment,

a precious oasis

within a busy day.

Speak to me, Lord,

that I might find

refreshment

in its clear water,

strength for my soul. Amen